2016: A Year In Pictures

The more accurate title of this post would be 2016: The Year I Waited Nine Months to Post My SXSW Pictures, since that is where 99% of these shots are from. The remaining 1% are from New Year’s Eve 2015, taken too late to be included in last year’s round-up.

So, yeah, anyway, here they are, better super late than not at all, I guess?

Here’s the one from NYE:

IMG_9730 The Molly Ringwalds, Biloxi, MS, NYE 2015

SXSW was, by turns, glorious and exhausting. There is so much music, and so little time, and so many people. I was pleased to be there – to have been invited to be there, given the honor of a place on a panel, because honestly, otherwise, I would not have gone – but I did not really feel like I was among my people until the third day, when I walked into a grimy punk bar far from the main (festival) drag. At that point I was also so tired and people’d out I was about ready to just lie down on the (disgusting) floor and let the sea of noise wash over me.

Here are the pictures I took:

Day 1

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HarMar Superstar, who did one song before stomping off in the huff.

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CHVRCHES, dj-ing.

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Charlie Belle, at their first (official) SXSW.

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Lev

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David C. Clements, the man I drove two days to see. “Blowing the roof off” is a cliche, but he really did – his set was electric and incredible; the crowd was buzzing with interest afterwards.

Day 2

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Interrobang (?!), busking with a full horn section, including a tuba.

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Danie Ocean and the Soul Tide.

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BANDITS

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Deap Valley; I wasn’t feeling them at first, but they won me over.

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Matthew Vasquez

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Alberta Cross, who rocked so hard the lighting rig fell down. Thankfully nobody was injured.

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Wintersleep, whose album I had been listening to somewhat obsessively on the drive over.

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The Dirty Nil, who melted our faces and were rewarded with a pit. I have never been so pleased to have get out of the circle belling out and the center starting to spin.

Day 3

It was St. Patrick’s Day, and as they say in Ireland, “a fine soft day.” Translation: it was sort of chilly and damp outside for a while. Since my SXSW “plan” was basically “uhhhhh, I’m just going to show up and follow my ears to the good stuff?” I spent part of the day ducking in and out of mostly empty bars, and then a chunk of time slipping between showcases.

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The Schisms were the first to lure me in out of the rain.

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Then I followed the sound of the pipes to Capitol City Highlanders

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Rodgie and the Waters were next, and a totally refreshing change of pace.

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Everybody Sing: I liked the guitars.

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Unknown, but he sure did have some pipes.

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Conchúr White, from Silences, at the Northern Ireland showcase.

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Girls Names, bringing some gothy grity and edge to the NI showcase

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Back across the street to Voodoo Doughnut for Rusango Family, who brought propulsive rap from the west of Ireland.

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Back to the NI showcase for round two of David C. Clements, and it was just as electrifying the second time.

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Ciaran Lavery, who powered through a minor wardrobe malfunction and silenced a chattering room with just his voice and his guitar. He also managed to sum up the heartbreak of the Irish diaspora in one two minute song at the end, sung without the help of his guitar. It was sad, and sobering, and incredibly painfully lovely, all at once.

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Jealous of the Birds (Naomi Hamilton). Her own songs were pretty but didn’t especially grab me; then she wielded a cover of Heart Shaped Box like a weapon.

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Loretta Lynn, as sparkly and as fierce as ever.

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Liebling, the first band I saw after I had decamped to my natural habitat, aka a grimy punk bar far off the (festival) path.

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Basketball Shorts, singing songs about faithless pizzarias in a pit of darkness.

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Voirvoir, or: here is where I hit the wall, and went home.

Final thoughts: I’m glad I could get to SXSW at least once. Looking back through these pictures, I feel all warm and fuzzy about the whole thing, and also bemused. I mean, where else can you hopscotch between the cream of the Northern Irish folk-rock crop, propulsive rap from the West of Ireland, Loretta Lynn and art-punk-rock all in one day? It was exhausting on many levels and often aggravating but mostly it was a great time.

Plus I got to tell a room full of musicians that the secret to getting blog attention is “follow the damn directions” which, y’all, that really is half the battle. Other suggestions: don’t be tedious, or a pest; do some research; but mostly: just be who you are. Play what’s in your heart. Let loose that which brings you joy and don’t worry who you “sound like.”

And I was awakened every morning by someone playing Reveille on an actual bugle outside my hotel window.

You can’t do better than that, for real.

I won’t be at SXSW 2017. I may never go again. I’m hanging on to music blogging by the skin of my teeth. I’d say “blog more” will be my NYE resolution but wow would that ever be a waste of time. I guess all I can really say is that for now I’m still here, and still listening.

Lagniappe: This isn’t a musical picture and it’s not even one I took this year, but it’s my favorite picture from the crop I just uploaded: Dark Corridor to a Stormy Sea, Panama City Beach, December 2015.

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2015: A Year in Pictures

Hello, darlings. I hope you are having excellent holidays, or at least excellent days.

Normally this feature is just a year’s worth of shows – or a year and a bit – but I’m doing something a little different this time around. 2015 has been amazing, at times, and brutal, at others, and as I uploaded my images, it occurred to me that some of the silences had as much of an impact as the instances of joyful noise.

So, here it is: a year of pictures of rockstars, and some other things, too.

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Book of Love, Terminal 5, New York, NY, Dec. 31, 2014

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Andy Bell, Erasure, Terminal 5, New York, NY, Dec. 31, 2014

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Kennedy (tuxedo) and Nikita (fluffball), dozing, New York, NY, Jan. 17, 2015

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Nikita, 2001-Feb. 16, 2015

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Kennedy, Feb. 28, 2015

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Alina in the snow, March 1, 2015

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Snow, birds, intrepid traveler, Brighton Beach, March 20, 2015

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Fort Tryon Park/George Washington Bridge, Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015

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Nick Morrison, Mumblr, Emerson House, Brooklyn, NY, April 24, 2015

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Emerson House, Brooklyn, NY, April 24, 2015

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Bonfire at the Mumblr show, Emerson House, Brooklyn, NY April 24, 2015

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Flowering tree, Brooklyn, April 24, 2015

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Kennedy, 1998-May 21, 2015

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The beach at Corpus Christi, TX, June 27, 2015

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Karma Killers, Warped Tour, Jones Beach, July 11, 2015

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The Dirty Nil, Warped Tour, Jones Beach, July 11, 2015

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Metro Station, Warped Tour, Jones Beach, July 11, 2015

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Family Force 5, Warped Tour, Jones Beach, July 11, 2015

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Black Veil Brides, Warped Tour, Jones Beach, July 11, 2015

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Rivers Monroe, Warped Tour, Jones Beach, July 11, 2015

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The beach at Jones Beach, July 11, 2015

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Z Berg, the Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY, July 21, 2015

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Alex Greenwald, PHASES, the Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY, July 21, 2015

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Z Berg and Michael Runion, PHASES, the Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY, July 21, 2015

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Father John Misty, Central Park, New York, NY, August 5, 2015

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Austin Plaine, Rockwood Music Hall, August 12, 2015

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Plastic Cannons, Rockwood Music Hall, August 12, 2015

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH, Aug. 20, 2015

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House band at the Dixie Stampede, Pigeon Forge, TN, Sept. 23, 2015

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Patriotic finale, Dixie Stampede, Pigeon Forge, TN, Sept. 23, 2015

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Elvis Presley at the pancake house, Pigeon Forge, TN, Sept. 24, 2015

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Elvis Presley (impersonator) at the State Fair, Jackson, MS, Oct. 10, 2015

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The Famous Maroon Band comes marching in, Starkville, MS, Nov. 14, 2015

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Tombigbee River, Columbus, MS, Dec. 13, 2015

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Miss Gay Oklahoma 2014, Rick’s Cafe, Starkville, MS, Dec. 15, 2015

2014: A Year In Pictures

A year of rock n’ roll, in pictures, including two shows from late December 2013, which I shot after I posted last years’ Year in Pictures.

Tonight I’m headed out to dance the New Year in with Erasure (!); have fun and be safe, y’all, and I’ll see you on the other side.



The Districts, Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, Dec. 30, 2013


The Felice Brothers, Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, Dec. 30, 2013


Team Spirit, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, Dec. 31, 2013

Andrew W.K., Irving Plaza, New York, NY, Dec. 31, 2013


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 001, NGHBRS, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ, Jan. 10, 2014


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 001, States and Kingdoms, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ, Jan. 10, 2014


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 001, Frank Iero, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ, Jan. 10, 2014


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 001, The Gay Blades, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ, Jan. 10, 2014


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 002, Fred Mascharino, St. Vitus, Brooklyn, NY, Jan. 18, 2014


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 002, States and Kingdoms, St. Vitus, Brooklyn, NY, Jan. 18, 2014


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 002, Geoff Rickley, St. Vitus, Brooklyn, NY, Jan. 18, 2014


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 002, Frank Iero, St. Vitus, Brooklyn, NY, Jan. 18, 2014


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 002, I Hate Our Freedom, St. Vitus, Brooklyn, NY, Jan. 18, 2014


Fadeaway Friends Benefit 002, The Gay Blades, St. Vitus, Brooklyn, NY, Jan. 18, 2014


Deep Pockets, Santos Party House, New York, NY, Jan. 19, 2014


Patrick Kindlon with Loss Leader, Santos Party House, New York, NY, Jan. 19, 2014



Ovlov, Santos Party House, New York, NY, Jan. 19, 2014



Pity Sex, Santos Party House, New York, NY, Jan. 19, 2014



Patrick Kindlon with Self Defense Family, Santos Party House, New York, NY, Jan. 19, 2014


X Ambassadors, Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY, Feb. 4, 2014


The Colourist, Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY, Feb. 4, 2014




Panic! at the Disco, Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY, Feb. 4, 2014


Rob DiPietro, Subculture, New York, NY Feb. 7, 2014


The Grahams, Subculture, New York, NY, Feb. 7. 2014


Z Berg, The Deep End Club, New York, NY, Feb. 9, 2014


The Grahams, Chez Andre, Feb. 17, 2014


Phone Home, Shea Stadium BK, Feb. 20, 2014


Weird Womb, Shea Stadium BK, Brooklyn, NY, Feb. 20, 2014


The Dirty Nil, Shea Stadium BK, Brooklyn, NY, Feb. 20, 2014


Samantha Crain, Mercury Lounge, New York, NY, Feb. 27, 2014

Murder By Death, Mercury Lounge, New York, NY, Feb. 27, 2014



Sleepwave, Best Buy Theater, New York, NY, April 15, 2014


tonightalive., Best Buy Theater, New York, NY, April 15, 2014


Taking Back Sunday, Best Buy Theater, New York, NY, April 15, 2014


The Used, Best Buy Theater, New York, NY, April 15, 2014


Andrew W.K., Subculture, New York, NY, April 25, 2014


Kate Myers, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY, May 3, 2014


Sean Van Vleet, empires, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY, May 3, 2014


Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY, May 3, 2014


Rhymin’ and Stealin’, Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, May 6, 2014


LaToya Kennedy with Rhymin’ and Stealin’, Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, May 6, 2014


Leroy Justice, Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, May 6, 2014


Bottom Dollars, Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, May 6, 2014


AF THE NAYSAYER, Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY, May 26, 2014


Durazzo, Trash Bar, Brooklyn NY, May 26, 2014


Brendon Urie, Panic! at the Disco, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, August 5, 2014


Alice Cooper, Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY, August 29, 2014


Mötley Crüe, Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY, August 29, 2014


Slomile Swift, Spike Hill, Brooklyn, NY, Sept. 11, 2014


SKYES, Spike Hill, Brooklyn, NY, Sept. 11, 2014


AF THE NAYSAYER and friends, Spike Hill, Brooklyn, Sept. 11, 2014


Rosie Flores, Hill Country BBQ, New York, NY, Sept. 13, 2014


The Dirty Nil, Brooklyn Night Bazaar, Brooklyn, NY, Sept. 20, 2014


Cory Branan, The Mercury Lounge, New York, NY, Oct. 1, 2014


Mumblr, Shea Stadium BK, Brooklyn, NY, Oct. 4, 2014


The Eeries, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, Oct. 20, 2014


Gerard Way, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, Oct. 20, 2014


The Eeries, Webster Hall, New York, NY, Oct. 23, 2014


Gerard Way, Webster Hall, New York, NY, Oct. 23, 2014


NGHBRS, Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, Nov. 14, 2014


Cold Fronts, Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, Nov. 14, 2014


Sean Van Vleet, empires, Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, Nov. 14, 2014


Tom Conrad, empires, Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, Nov. 14, 2014

2012: A Year In Pictures, October and December

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Johnny Hallyday, Beacon Theater, Oct. 7, 2012
 
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Blake Mills, Terminal 5, New York, NY, Oct. 16, 2012
 
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Fiona Apple, Terminal 5, New York, NY, 0ct. 16, 2012
 
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Fiona Apple, Terminal 5, Oct. 16, 2012
 
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Beast Patrol, The Studio at Webster Hall, October 19, 2012
 
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Alex Greenwald and Z Berg, JJAMZ, The Studio at Webster Hall, Oct. 19, 2012
 
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Alex Greenwald and Michael Runion, JJAMZ, The Studio at Webster Hall, Oct. 19, 2012
 
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Sweatheart, Terminal 5, New York, NY, Oct. 22, 2012
 
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The Dirty Pearls, Terminal 5, New York, NY, Oct. 22, 2012.
 
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Justin Hawkins / The Darkness, Terminal 5, New York, NY, Oct. 22, 2012
 
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Jeffertitti’s Nile w/ Father John Misty, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY, Oct. 24, 2012
 
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Katy Goodman, La Sera, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY, Oct. 24, 2012
 
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Father John Misty, w/ Jeffertitti, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY, Oct. 24, 2012
 
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Lindi Ortega, Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY, Oct. 26, 2012
 
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Mike Ness, Social Distortion, Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY, Oct. 26, 2012
 
Apparently I didn’t go to any shows in November, either.
 
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Sheena Ozzella, Lemuria, Webster Hall, New York, NY, Dec. 2, 2012
 
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Ceremony and stage diver going in to the pit, Webster Hall, New York, NY, Dec. 2, 2012
 
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Titus Andronicus, Webster Hall, New York, NY, Dec. 2, 2012
 
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Animal Collective, Terminal 5, Dec. 5, 2012
 
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Casey Neill, 68 Jay Street Bar, Brooklyn, NY, Dec. 8, 2012
 
IMG_8261 A small fraction – there are nine of them! – of Industries of the Blind, Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY, Dec. 21, 2012

2012: A Year In Pictures: July – September

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Alex Greenwald and Z Berg, JJAMZ, Webster Hall, New York, NY, July 10, 2012
 
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Michael Runion, JJAMZ, Webster Hall, New York, NY, July 10, 2012
 
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JJAMZ, Webster Hall, New York, NY, July 10, 2012
 
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Lita Ford, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, July 13, 2012
 
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Bret Michaels, Poison, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, July 13, 2012
 
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C.C. DeVille, Poison, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, July 13, 2012
 
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Bobby Dall, Poison, Nikon at Joes Beach Theater, July 13, 2012
 
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Ricki Rockett, Poison, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, July 13, 2012
 
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Rick Allen, Def Leppard, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, July 13, 2012
 
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Rick Savage and Joe Elliot, Def Leppard, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, July 13, 2012
 
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Phil Collen, Def Leppard, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, July 13, 2012
 
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Def Leppard, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, July 13, 2012
 
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Marcy Playground, Bank of America Pavilion, Boston, MA, July 28, 2012
 
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A. Jay Popoff, Lit, Bank of America Pavilion, Boston, MA, July 28, 2012
 
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Mark McGrath, Sugar Ray, Bank of America Pavilion, Boston, MA, July 28, 2012
 
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Art Alexakis, Everclear, Bank of America Pavilion, Boston, MA, July 28, 2012
 
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Art Alexakis (Everclear) and Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), Bank of America Pavilion, July 28, 2012
 
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David Kuckhermann, Beacon Theater, New York, NY, Aug. 30, 2012
 
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Dead Can Dance, Beacon Theater, New York, NY, Aug. 30, 2012
 
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Larry & his Flask, Webster Hall, Sept. 29, 2012
 
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Frank Turner, Webster Hall, September 29, 2012

2012: A Year In Pictures: April – May

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DeVotchka, Beacon Theater, New York, NY, April 4, 2012
 
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Stephin Merritt, The Magnetic Fields, Beacon Theater, New York, NY, April 4, 2012
 
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Claudia Gonson, The Magnetic Fields, Beacon Theater, New York, NY, April 4, 2012
 
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Diamond Doves, Mercury Lounge, New York, NY, April 21, 2012
 
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Elvis Perkins cameo appearance, Mercury Lounge, New York, NY, April 21, 2012
 
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Van Preston, Joe’s Pub, New York, NY, May 17, 2012
 
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Ray Wylie Hubbard, Joe’s Pub, New York, NY, May 17, 2012
 
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Lucas Hubbard and Ray Wylie Hubbard, Joe’s Pub, New York, NY, May 17, 2012
 
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Jill Hennessy, Lucas Hubbard, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Joe’s Pub, New York, NY, May 17, 2012
 

No June; bar review ate my life and I didn’t go to any shows.

2012: A Year In Pictures: Dec. 2011- March 2012

A series of highlights, as well as a chronological accounting.

At the beginning: shows I went to after I had completed last year’s year-end roundup but before the end of the year.

 
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Naked Fiction, Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA, Dec. 30, 2011
 
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we are the Last Men On Earth, Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, Dec. 30, 2011
 
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Pollux, Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, Dec. 30, 2011
 
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Wounded Lion, Brick & Mortar, San Francisco, CA, Dec. 31, 2011
 
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White Fence, Brick & Mortar, San Francisco, CA, Dec. 31, 2011
 
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Fresh & Onlys, Brick & Mortar, San Francisco, Dec. 31, 2011
 
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Thee Oh Sees, Brick & Mortar, San Francisco, Dec. 31, 2011
 
And now, 2012, starting my first show of the year at the Lakeside Lounge:
 
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Mud, Blood & Beer, Lakeside Lounge, NY, NY, January 5, 2012
 
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Crown Jewel Defense, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, February 4, 2012
 
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Foxy Shazam, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, February 4, 2012
 
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Justin Hawkins, The Darkness, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, February 4, 2012
 
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The Darkness, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, February 4, 2012
 
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Built By Stereo, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, February 17, 2012
 
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TESLA, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, February 17, 2012
 
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Iridesense, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, March 10, 2012
 
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Saw Doctors, Irving Plaza, New York, NY, March 10, 2012